8 peacekeepers dead in helicopter crash over Sinai

By David Ian Klein November 12, 2020

Six Americans, one French and one Czech citizen died in a helicopter crash while flying over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula Thursday in the area of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The group were part of the Multinational Force and Observers, which says that they have no reason to believe the crash was anything other than an accident, the Times of Israel reported.

The Force and Observers which were left to watch over the region as part of Israel and Egypt’s 1979 peace agreement.

The northern Sinai has been a site of unrest in recent years due to the presence of ISIS affiliated insurgents, prompting the Egyptian government to close the region to foreigners.

Sharm el-Sheikh is a resort town on the Red Sea initially founded under Israeli rule as the Jewish settlement of Ofira

Following the crash, the Israeli army sent a medical rescue team and the one surviving member of the helicopter’s crew is being treated in Israel at a hospital in Beersheva.

The IDF tweeted its condolences, while Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in a statement that the servicemen “lost their lives while bravely protecting the stability, security, and peace of our region.”

The IDF sends its condolences to the families of the Multinational Force & Observers (MFO) personnel from @USNationalGuard, @armeedeterre & @ArmadaCR who died in a helicopter crash today.

This event is a tragedy for the MFO, who work to promote stability between Israel & Egypt.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 12, 2020

David Ian Klein covers breaking news and international Jewish communities for the Forward. You can reach him at [email protected] and on Twitter @davidianklein.

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